Netanyahu alleges ICC prosecutor aims to ‘vilify Israel’ with arrest warrants

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized the International Criminal Court for its plans to issue arrest warrants against him, claiming the court is trying to “demonize” the country.

The ICC announced Monday that Netanyahu is one of two Israeli officials the court intends to pursue arrest warrants against, with the other being Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. A prosecutor at the ICC has accused Israel of withholding water to Hamas terrorists and Gaza civilians, an accusation Netanyahu deemed “absurd.”

“We are supplying now nearly half of the water of Gaza,” Netanyahu said on ABC’s Good Morning America. “We supplied only 7% before the war, so this is completely opposite of what he’s saying. He’s saying we’re starving people? We have supplied half a million tons of food and medicine with 20,000 trucks. This guy is out to demonize Israel. He’s doing a hit job.”

The ICC’s announcement also detailed plans to pursue arrest warrants against Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, Mohammed Deif, the head of its military, and Ismail Haniyeh, the head of its political bureau. Netanyahu criticized this, comparing these planned arrest warrants to a hypothetical scenario of if the ICC pursued arrest warrants against then-President George Bush and Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The Israeli prime minister also said the ICC’s prosecutor is adding fuel to “the fires of antisemitism.”

“Because he is attacking the one and only Jewish state and trying to handcuff us, preventing us from exercising responsibly, through the laws of war as we obey them, and we are subordinate to them,” Netanyahu said. “He’s saying we are not. He’s creating false symmetry, false facts, and he’s doing a grave injustice to the international court.”

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Regarding his plans for what happens when the war ends, he explained their goals after destroying Hamas include demilitarizing Gaza and ensuring the region seeks a civilian administration not affiliated with the terrorist group. He said another goal is to rebuild Gaza “in a peaceful way.”

President Joe Biden also criticized the ICC’s plans for arrest warrants, calling them “outrageous” and stressing that “there is no equivalence” between Israel and Hamas. He added the United States would continue to support Israel amid any threats the Middle Eastern country faces.